General description.

The "Cape May Warbler" has so many other distinguishing features: olive back, yellow eye stripe and rump, heavy black streaks on underparts; he gleams in the sun. The first specimen was collected in a maple swamp in Cape May, New Jersey in 1811, thus its name.

Female appearance.

The female Cape May is interestingly marked as well, but much duller in detail.

Breeding habits.

These warblers breed from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec and Nova Scotia and south to North Dakota, Michigan, Maine and northern New York.

Calls or song.

The "Cape May Warbler" produces four or more thin, high pitched notes, "seet-seet-seet-seet".

Population and distribution.

Once considered rare, they have been noticed more frequently during migration, inhabiting open spruce forests, where they may be seen hanging head down, among fir needles, in search of lunch. Now they can also be spotted in parks and suburban yards. These warblers winter in southern Florida and the West Indies.

Nesting habits.

The female "Cape May Warbler" makes a compact nest of twigs and moss, lined with grass, fur and feathers. She lays four brown-spotted white eggs.